&2 



During the entertainment of the " singing men and singing- 

 women" at the vizier's, the attendants frequently brought dried 

 fruits, pistachio-nuls, and salted almonds, to improve the flavour 

 of the coffee and sherbets, made from the juice of falsee, limes, and 

 different fruits, presented in profusion and variety. Other servants 

 stood near with punkahs and chouries, to cause a vibration in the 

 air, and keep off the insects. The former may go under the general 

 denomination of fans, however modified in shape. The latter are a 

 sort of long pendant brush, composed of different materials; some- 

 times of peacock's feathers, or the beautiful plumage of the bird of 

 paradise; some are of cusa grass, or the leaves of the palmyra tree. 

 Those most esteemed for elegance and utility united, are formed 

 from the tail of the katass cow. This animal is a native of Thibet, 

 Cachimere, and some of the northern provinces of Hindostan. The 

 beauty of these tails, or chouries, depends upon the whiteness, 

 silkiness, and length of the hair, which is not taken off the tail, but 

 remains on the stump, set in a handle of gold, silver, or enamel. 

 Thus luxuriously seated, the Persians smoked their culleons and 

 nargills, kept up a lively conversation, and displayed some taste in 

 music, poetry, and painting. 



At ten o'clock we descended from the terrace to the saloon pre- 

 pared for supper, which was covered with rich carpets, cushions, 

 and pillows of various kinds, illuminated from cut-glass chande- 

 liers, and ornamented with Persian paintings, representing the 

 youths and damsels of Iran in voluptuous indulgence, amid a pro- 

 fusion of fruit, flowers, ices, and perfumes. This room, supported 

 only by pillars, opened on every side to a flower garden of roses, 

 jasmin, mogrees, and double tuberoses, with pomegranates and 



